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Friday, August 9, 2013

The back to school season is upon us, while you are hitting the stores for clothes and supplies it is easy to forget about planning for lunches. We all want to feed our kids nutritious and delicious food to support their growing bodies and brains, but let's face it. There just aren't enough hours in a day to plan and prepare the ultimate lunch. I have a few sandwich ideas for you that will keep your kids satisfied and relieve your Mommy lunchtime guilt.

The Ultimate Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

What kid doesn't like peanut butter and jelly? This is a time tested lunchtime option that we often fall back on, but in all honesty the same old same old sandwich can get a little boring. I have a simple recipe to share with you that will make your kids smile and beg for a pb&j.

You will need:

2 tablespoons of all natural peanut butter

1 teaspoon of sugar or honey

2 tablespoons of butter or margarine

2 slices of whole grain bread

1 tablespoon of jelly or jam

This recipe is as simple as combining the peanut butter, butter or margarine and the sugar or honey. Mix them together until they are well blended. Spread on one slice of bread.

Spread the jelly or jam on the second slice of bread, and place the two slices of bread on top of each other. You are done! Trust me, this makes the best pb&j sandwich ever. The peanut butter mixture will spread easily thanks to the butter, and the slight amount of sweetness will add a new dimension of taste to the sandwich. You can substitute the sugar for an artificial sweetener such as equal or even all natural stevia. Pair with milk and an apple or banana and carrot sticks and you have a great lunch that will leave your student satisfied and ready to take on the rest of the day.

If peanut butter and jelly isn't your style you might want to try out this amazing tuna salad recipe.

Amazing Tuna Salad

You will need:

1 can of tuna in water, drained

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1/4 cup of chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup of diced tomatoes

1/4 cup of seeded and diced cucumbers

1 tablespoon of dijon or honey mustard

shredded lettuce

1 slice of whole grain bread or a whole wheat soft tortilla

Combine the mustard of choice and olive oil. Add in the tuna and mix well. Add the tomato, cucumber and chickpeas to the tuna mixture and give it a good stir to blend all ingredients well. Cut the bread in half and build your sandwich, topping it with shredded lettuce. If you are using a whole wheat tortilla instead of bread, place the tuna on one half of the tortilla, top with lettuce and roll it up like a wrap.

This tuna salad is healthier than your average tuna salad as it uses olive oil in place of mayo. It is also packed with veggies for a complete meal when paired with milk or fruit juice. The texture and melody of flavors will be a welcome relief and this sandwich will satisfy the hunger of your student while offering a change of pace from the normal tuna salad sandwich.

Hummus Sandwich

Hummus is a great lunchtime option. It is versatile and filling and is oftentimes overlooked when it comes to lunch for kids. A hummus sandwich will offer flavor and nutrition, and it is easy to prepare.

You will need:

Makes 2 sandwiches

4 tablespoons of hummus, any flavor

2 pitas

1/4 cup cucumbers, sliced or diced

1/4 tomatoes, sliced or diced

1/4 cup diced onions

1 tablespoon of feta cheese if desired

Slice pitas in half. Spread 1 tablespoon of hummus on each pita half, top 2 pita halves with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, feta cheese, place the remaining pita halves on the top and enjoy. Pair with milk, water of fruit juice and an apple or banana for a satisfying and nutritious meal.

I hope these sandwich ideas help you plan for an easy and delicious lunch for your kids.